'52 8n 6v coil

[J-M-D]

Six months ago my 8n starts like a champ and runs strong, but then I go out and get a new 55 HP New Holland and neglect the 8n for all these months. Anyway, I go to start the 8n and all it does is crank. Then it quits cranking and the starter just spins. So I have the starter rebuilt and now it cranks again but doesn't fire up. I check fuel and there is plenty heading to the carb. I check for spark and it is really weak across the gap of a plug. I test the main coil wire and it doesn't produce much spark when grounded next to the block and next to nothing when grounding a plug next to the block.

Thinking I found the problem, I run out an buy a new generic 6 v coil for $12. The old one is actually a 6v or 12v depending on whether or not a resistor is used. The old one doesn't have + or - on its terminals, just "Batt" on one side and nothing on the other. So, is "Batt" equivalent to the + or the - on the new coil?

Thanks, Jim.

 

[old]

Well if the old one was the one that came on the tractor when new then the batt. side would equal -. Now if it had been replaced at some time it would most likely be +, all depends on how old that coil is. Now since your replaceing the coil then it doesn't really matter as long as you hook up the new one correctly. So if your tractor is still + ground like it should be then the + side of the coil goes to the distubutor and the - side to the switch. Or in other words and this works on all engines. Which ever side of the battery is ground is the side of the coil that goes to the distubutor
Hobby farm

 

[Dell (WA)]

Jim........you replace the WRONG part for the right reason, WEAK SPARKIES. The 6-volt roundcan ignition coil is rather bulletproof and not subject to sudden weak sparkies for setting for months.

BUT yer ignition points ($5, cheap) are subject to invisible corrosion that causes weak sparkies. Do I haffta tell you, REPLACE YER POINTS!!!.......respectfully, Dell, yer self-appointed sparkie-meister

 

[J-M-D]

old----OUTSTANDING explanation....thanks. It is a POS. ground system, so I'll put the + to the distributor.

Dell----thanks for the tip, new points, condenser, and plugs are being installed with the new coil.